Ottawa is studying a division of orders at Bombardier and Boeing to replace its aging military surveillance planes, La Presse has learned. The scenario, which is under study, would ease tensions in a case that has taken a political turn.
“It is a proposal that is under consideration,” said a government source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly. This could be the start of a solution. »
The Department of Defense is not keen on buying Bombardier surveillance planes – private jets that are converted for military use. He prefers to set his sights on Boeing’s Poseidon P-8A, a device that is similar to the 737 family of aircraft.
But by excluding Bombardier, the Canadian government is aware that it could harm the chances of the Quebec aircraft manufacturer – which wishes to increase its exposure to the defense sector – elsewhere in the world. At least that’s a scenario circulating behind the scenes of power in Ottawa, according to information obtained by La Presse.
“It would be strange if we were able to sell this product to other countries without having been considered in our own country,” Bombardier President and CEO Eric Martel said on March 29, 2019. sidelines of a speech before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Yes, it could harm us.” »
The Trudeau government could opt for the compromise by buying ten Poseidon P-8As and five aircraft built by the Quebec multinational. Behind the scenes, it is explained that this scenario would first buy planes from Boeing and then from Bombardier. This would give him time to perfect his surveillance plane, especially in terms of armament.
The Ministry of Defense must replace the 14 aging CP-140 Auroras of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) by the end of 2030. The Department maintains that the P-8A is the only aircraft that could meet Canadian requirements. The potential contract is valued at $9 billion.
Bombardier questions Ottawa’s approach and asks for a chance to bid under a call for tenders. In the Commons, the three opposition parties have been of the same opinion since La Presse revealed that the Boeing plane has suffered failures in recent years by staying too long in the workshop, according to a report by the American government.
The scenario studied by Ottawa displeases Pierre Rochefort, CEO of the firm Cirrus Research Associates. This former commander of an F-18 fighter squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force believes that this would be expensive, in addition to presenting “significant logistical problems”.
“There would be challenges for training and training since teams would have to be formed for each of the platforms, explains the expert. In terms of maintenance and logistical support, it will be the same thing. It’s really not ideal. »
Even if the replacement of the CP-140 Aurora takes a political turn, Mr. Rochefort nevertheless believes that there are elements in favor of Boeing. First, allied nations like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany have ordered or are operating Poseidon P-8As. So there is an advantage to buying the plane to harmonize, according to the former fighter pilot.
The other argument in favor of the Boeing aircraft, according to Mr. Rochefort, is Bombardier’s ability to adapt its Global aircraft to carry anti-submarine torpedoes – which the P-8A can do.
“A Global is going to cost as much as a Poseidon with all the modifications that need to be made,” he said. The Bombardier plane is assembled here [in Canada], but the military conversion is done in the United States. About 90% of the cost will be the systems you install on the plane, not the aircraft itself. »
Regardless of the device purchased, the issue of economic benefits seems to be at the heart of the Trudeau government’s concerns.
This is a note prepared as part of a meeting between the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, and the president of Boeing International, Michael Arthur.
“You have indicated that Boeing is committed to enhancing support, training and simulation services with its Poseidon team. Would Canadian partners have the ability to export these services to other P-8A operators? »
As part of its Canadian proposal, Boeing has teamed up with companies like CAE, GE Aviation Canada as well as Raytheon Technologies, a conglomerate that owns Pratt
For the second time in two months, Bombardier has seen its credit rating upgraded by one of the major rating agencies. Standard
